Ichinoya Mitsuru

Sumo wrestler infobox

wrestlername = 一ノ矢 充
Ichinoya Mitsuru
realname = Tetsuhiro Matsuda
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1960|12|28
placeofbirth = Kagoshima, Japan
height = height|meters=1.65cite web|author=|publisher=Sumo Reference|title=Ichnoya Mitsuru|url=http://sumodb.sumogames.com/Rikishi.aspx?r=532|date=|accessdate=2007-09-12]
weight = convert|98.5|kg|lb|abbr=on|lk=on
heya = Takasago
rank =
record = 484-518-6
debut = November, 1983
highestrank = Sandanme 6 (July, 1991)
retireddate = November, 2007
yushos = 2 (Jonidan)
prizes =
goldstars =
weburl =http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~wakamatu/
update = September 2007

Ichinoya Mitsuru (born 28 December 1960 as Tetsuhiro Matsuda) is a former sumo wrestler from Tokunoshima, Ōshima, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. His highest rank was "sandanme" 6.

Career

At 46 years of age, Ichinoya was the oldest man in professional sumo since the start of the Showa era in 1926. [cite web | author= Blair, Eric| title=Lower Division Rikishi| publisher=sumofanmag.com |language=English|url=http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_2/Lower_Rikishi1.htm| date=August 2005| accessdate=2007-06-21] When he began his sumo career in November 1983 his stablemate, current "yokozuna" Asashoryu was just three years old.

Ichinoya was interested in sumo from a very young age. He grew up on Tokunoshima island, which was the birthplace of the 46th Yokozuna Asashio Tarō III. He studied physics at Ryukyu University in Okinawa, and started up a sumo club there. He joined Takasago stable upon graduating. He never rose higher than the fourth "sandanme" division, but he was much admired simply for his longevity and his determination in fighting opponents more than twenty years his junior. At the tournament in May 2007, ranked at Jonidan 87, he fought back from 0-3 down to achieve a 4-3 score and "kachi-koshi". [cite web | author= Buckton, Mark| title=Hakuho wrestles his way into the history books| publisher=Japan Times Online |language=English|url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ss20070529a1.html| date=2007-05-29| accessdate=2007-06-21] In November 2007, having completed 1000 professional bouts, he announced that he was retiring after 24 years in sumo. [http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/sports/20071126TDY20105.htm] He also announced his intention to marry.

Ichinoya will remain as the general manager of Takasago stable, looking after its day to day running. He is also a keen computer enthusiast and keeps a regular blog on the heya's website. [cite web|author=Buckton, Mark|title=With Wailing Walls and Dead Sea dips, who needs the World Cup?|publisher=Japan Times|url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ss20060615mb.html|date=2006-05-15|accessdate=2008-07-10]

In February 2008 Ichinoya had retirement ceremony, or "danpatsu-shiki", at a hotel in Tokyo, along with his wedding reception. Asashoryu was among the attendees.

References

ee also

*Glossary of sumo terms
*List of past sumo wrestlers

External links

* [http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/ozumo_meikan/rikishi_joho/rikishi.php?A=1471 Japan Sumo Association profile]
* [http://sumodb.sumogames.com/Rikishi.aspx?r=532 Ichinoya's tournament results]